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5 Sheets-Sheet l A. J. HODGE ET AL ROTARY MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1955 W36 A. J. HODGE ET AL I ROTARY MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1953 m, m. A. J. HOME ET AL 2 041,180

ROTARY MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1953 ISSheets-Sheetfi Q 21 I k 5 I; H I J| W W I a: 1 7' z a: 1 1

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Al- I I5 k Patented May 19, 1936 UNITEDVSTATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY MACHINE Application August 12,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary machines as used in a rotary drilling rig when drilling for water or gas, and is more particularly related to the provision of a novel compact rotary machine 5 which is economical in construction and is particularly applicable for use in the prospecting type of drilling equipment which has for its requisites the provision of light, but yet rigid, construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and compact pinion shaft mounting for such a rotary machine which is economical of construction and is particularly applicable to such prospecting type of drilling equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary machine in which there isprovided a novel and inexpensive form of enclosure for the gears and. bearings of such rotary machine. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary machine particularly applicable for pros- 29, pecting type drilling equipment in which there is provided the novel form of bearing structure for the rotary table, including an upthrust bearing for the rotary table.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawngs.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the rotary machine embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken substan tially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the modified form of rotarymachine embodied in our invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the modifledform of construction shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 isa fragmental sectional view illustrating the means provided for retaining the upthrust bearing means from rotation with relation to the base of the rotary machine.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I indicates the baseof arotary machine which is provided with an annular upstanding wall 2 and an outwardly extending pinion shaft supporting portion 3. A rotary gear table 4 is rotatably supported upon the base I on main bearings 5 mounted within the chamber formed by the upstanding wall 2 of the base I. The upstanding wall 2 of the base I is formed with an opening 6 through which a drive pinion 1 may be passed to mesh with the ring gear 8 of the rotary table 4.

5: Formed in the outer periphery of the rotary 1933, Serial No. 684,844

table 4 is a groove 9 which cooperates with the upper edge of the annular wall 2 to form a labyrinth path to prevent the admission of foreign matter into the enclosure formed by the upstanding wall 2 of the base I and thus complete the enclosure for the gears and the bearings mounted within the rotary machine base I.

An upthrust bearing I0 is mounted below the main bearing 5 to take the upthrust which may be applied to the rotary table 4. The main bear- 7 ing 5 and upthrust bearing IE3 assembly is substantially identical with that disclosed in the copending application of David S. Faulkner, et al., Serial No. 504,758, filed December 26, 1930, Patent No. 2,005,137, issued June 18, 1935.

In order to lighten the structure in the manner desirable in the construction of prospecting type of drilling equipment, the table 4 is cored out as indicated at I I in a manner well known to.

those skilled in the ordinary foundry practice, and s the gear ring 8 is mounted in position to cover the cured openings I2 leading from the cored pockets I I.

Formed in the base I of the rotary machine is the inner annular wall 2 which extends upwardly in the base structure to separate the chamber in which the bearings 5 and I 0 are mountedfrom the chamber within which the pinion I is mounted. The inner annular upstanding wall 2* is likewise formed with a flange 2 providing the thrust and bearing support for the bearings 5 and II].

Means are provided for driving the rotary table 4 with respect to the base I, which means are preferably of the following construction:

A shaft I3 is mounted on the base I preferably in a manner to be supported at its inner end in an opening 2 formed in the upstanding wall 2*. The shaft I3 is supported at its outer end, or at a point spaced from the support provided at 2, on a cross beam I5 which is bolted as indicated at I6 to the outwardly extending pinion shaft supporting portion 3 of the base I. The pinion shaft I3 is thus supported at its inner end in the boss I4 of the inner wall 2 within the enclosure formed by the upstanding wall 2 of the base I.

Dowels I! are provided for accurately maintaining alignment of the cross beam shaft support with the opening 2 in the boss I4.

The shaft I3 is shouldered at I8 and I9 to position opposed bearings 20 and 2| which rotatably support a sleeve 22 upon which is integrally formed the pinion 1, sprocket 23 and lock lugs 24. A plate 25 forms a closure at the inner end of the sleeve '22 adjacent the inner bearing 20 and a plate 26 provides a closure for the outer end of the sleeve 22 adjacent the outer bearing 2|.

In order to provide for the adjustment of the bearings and 2|, shims 21 are interposed between the face of the sleeve 22 and the plate 26. Cap screws 28 are provided for securing the plate 26 to the sleeve 22. In this manner the axial position of bearings 20 and 2| within the sleeve 22 is determined.

In order to adjust the axial position of the sleeve 22 to position this with respect to the ring gear 8, there are provided a pair of opposed threaded collars or nuts 29 which are positioned on the opposite faces of the boss 3|] formed on the cross beam |5. The collars 29 are screwed onto the threaded portions of the shaft l3.

To adjust the shaft axially, and hence to adjust the sleeve 22 axially, it is only necessary to turn the nuts 29 the desired amount, and upon the necessary adjustment being made to tighten the nuts against the faces of the boss 30. A key 3| prevents the shaft |3 from rotating. The nuts 29 are provided with means for locking the same in adjusted position, which means includes notches 32 formed in the periphery of the nuts 29 which facilitates the turning of the nuts with a spanner wrench, and which notches are also formed to receive a key 33 which is fitted within an opening formed in the boss 30. The key 33 is held against movement by means of a set screw 34.

In order to hold the sleeve 22 from rotation .when desired, lock pawls 35 are positioned on opposite sides of the sleeve 22 in position to be engaged as desired with lock lugs 24.

In order to maintain a fluid-tight enclosure within the base I as formed by the upstanding wall 2, the sleeve 22 is enlarged as indicated at 36 to fit closely within the opening 6 formed in the wall 2 of the base A stuffing box 31 is formed within the opening 6 to receive packing 38 to seal the gear and pinion enclosure. A gland 39' is employed to compress the packing 38 and to permit the renewal thereof as desired.

In the modified form of invention as illustrated in Figures i, 5 and 6, the rotary machine is indicated as including a base 50 having an outer upstanding wall 5| and an outwardly extending pinion shaft supporting portion 52. A gear table 53 is rotatably mounted upon the main bearings 54 positioned within the base enclosure formed by the upstanding wall 5| of the base 50. A pinion 55 is keyed to the shaft 56 to mesh with the ring gear 51 of the table 53. The shaft 56 is supported at its inner ends on bearings 58 supported within a boss 90 formed in the inner upstanding wall 90 of the base 5|].

The outer end of the shaft 56 is supported in a bearing assembly 60 mounted within a housing 6| formed integrally with a cross beam 62. The cross beam 62 is bolted to the outwardly extending portion 52 of the base 50 to secure the bearing assembly 66 in alignment with bearing 58. A sprocket 63 is keyed to the shaft 56 for driving the pinion 55.7 The sprocket 63 is formed with pockets 64 in its hub to provide stops which cooperate with lock pawls 65 for holding the pinion shaft against rotation when desired.

The pinion 55 is insertable through the opening 66 formed in the wall 5| of the base 50.

In order to complete the enclosure formed by the upstanding wall 5|, a'cover plate 61 is bolted to the outer face of the wall5l and forms an enclosure for the opening 66. The shaft 56 extends through the cover plate 61 and a stuffing box 68 is provided to form an oil-tight seal around the shaft 56.

In order to adjust the pinion 55 axially to maintain proper meshing of the pinion 55 with the gear 51 of the rotary table, We prefer to provide the following means:

The pinion 55 is axially adjusted by axial movement of the shaft 56. The bearing assembly 60 consists of two opposed anti-friction bearings 69 which are designed to take the combined radial and thrust loads imposed on the outer end of the shaft 56. An adjusting nut 10 is threaded to the shaft 56 to provide the necessary adjusting means for the bearing 69. The bearing assembly 66 is axially adjustable as a unit within the housing 6| by means of shims interposed between the housing 6| and the flange of the bearing sleeve 12. The removal or insertion of shims H as desired permits of the necessary axial adjustment of the pinion 55. A cover plate 13 is provided for the end of the housing 6| to enclose the bearing units 60.

Upthrust bearing means are provided for the rotary gear table, which upthrust bearing means preferably consists of an upthrust bearing ring M and an adjusting ring 15. The bore of the bearing ring 14 is provided with a plurality of annular grooves 16 forming a corresponding number of bearing shoulders. Tne lower portion of the gear table skirt 11 is also provided with a plurality of annular grooves which define annular ribs 18 that fit within the annular grooves 16 in the ring 14. The ring 74 is made of any suitable bearing metal. The shoulders thus formed by the ring 14 and the table skirt provide the necessary upthrust bearing area to take the loads imposed during drilling. The ring 14 is preferably split in halves which are secured together by means of rivets or the like as indicated at 19, after being assembled on the skirt 11 of the table 53.

The upthrust bearing ring 14 thus forms a unit with the table 53 and is insertable into and removable from the base 50 through the opening 80 formed in the base. When the table unit, including the table 53, the main bearing 54, and the upthrust bearing I4, is assembled into the rotary base 50, it is secured against displacement by the adjustment ring 15 which is screwed onto the upthrust ring 14. The ring 15 is adjusted to retain the desired amount of bearing freedom between the bearings 54 and 14. v 4

The ring 14 is held against rotation by means of lugs 8| which engage in recesses 0r pockets 32 formed within the base 50. The upthrust ring 14 further provides a radial bearing for the table 53, since it is accurately aligned and fitted within the bore'8ll of the base 50.

The thrust bearing surfaces between the ring 14 and the table skirt I1 are lubricated by oil which overflows from the main bearing 54. The ring 14 is formed at its upper end with the annular groove 84 to catch oil overflowing from the main bearing 54 and direct the oil to the bearing surfaces formed between the ring 14- and the skirt ll.

In other respects than as herein described, the

be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a rotary machine, the combination of a base having an upstanding annular wall, a rotary gear table rotatably supported by the base and forming With the wall an enclosure, the Wall having an opening, a shaft extending into the enclosure through the opening, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft and extending into the opening, a pinion on one end of the sleeve within the enclosure for driving the gear table, and a drive means on the sleeve outside the enclosure for driving the pinion.

2. In a rotary machine, the combination of a base, a rotary table including a gear rotatably supported by the base, a non-rotatable shaft supported at its inner end by the base, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft, said sleeve having a pinion at one end meshing with the gear on the rotary table and a sprocket at the other end for driving said sleeve, and means to support the shaft adjacent the sprocket end of the sleeve.

3. In a rotary machine, the combination of a base, a rotary table including a gear rotatably supported by. the base, a shaft, means to sup port said shaft in non-rotative relation with said base, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft, means to maintain said sleeve against axial movement relative to the shaft, said sleeve having a pinion at one end meshing with the gear on the rotary table, and a drive means at the other end for driving said sleeve, and means to axially adjust said shaft.

4. In a rotary machine, the combination of a base, a rotary table including a gear rotatably supported by the base, a shaft, means to support said shaft in non-rotative relation with the base, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft, 5

the sleeve having a pinion at one end meshing with the gear on the rotary table, a drive means at the other end for driving the sleeve and a lock means, and means mounted on the base in operative relation with the lock means on said sleeve to lock the sleeve against rotation.

5. In a rotary machine, the combination of a base having an upstanding annular wall, a gear table rotatably supported on the base, cooperat ing means between the upstanding wall and the table to define a labyrinth path to resist the entrance of foreign matter into the interior of the base, the wall having a cylindrical opening,

a shaft, means to support the shaft on the base including a support within the enclosure defined by the upstanding annular wall of the base, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, the sleeve having a pinion insertible in the cylindrical opening and. meshing with the gear on the table, a drive means at the other end for driving the sleeve, an intermediate cylindricalportion formed on the sleeve being substantially of the same diameter as the largest diameter of the pinion, and packing means between the said cylindrical portion of the sleeve and the cylindrical opening in the upstanding wall.

ARTHUR J. I-IODGE.

JOHN D. SPALDING. 

